ROME (Reuters) – Italy on Wednesday made it mandatory to wear face masks outdoors nationwide in an effort to reduce rising COVID-19 infections, the health ministry said after the cabinet agreed on the measure.
Italy has seen a steady increase in new cases in the last two months, although its numbers are still much lower than those recorded in other major European countries such as France, Spain and Britain.
The cabinet also approved a decree to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency to Jan.31, a cabinet source said.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante, writing by Gavin Jones)
